KOTA SAMARAHAN: Guided by the wisdom of a Malay proverb that translates to ‘if you’re too shy to ask, you will get lost,’ Nur Fatmadewi Dollah Chek’s journey of balancing work and studies led her to earn the prestigious 2024 Academic Award at the 3rd convocation ceremony of Professional and Executive Programmes (PEP) under Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) Business School (UBS).
At 29, Nur Fatmadewi achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout her one-year study in the Professional Diploma in Islamic Teaching programme, completing it with distinction.
She humbly described her journey as one of sacrifices, noting that maintaining such high academic standards while working full-time required a strong support system and a relentless drive.
It wasn’t just about excelling in studies, but about juggling priorities with a clear purpose.
“It wasn’t easy at all, mainly because I was working while studying. We had classes every two weeks.
“Without the continuous support from friends, the constant guidance from lecturers, and my family’s unwavering encouragement, I couldn’t have completed this journey,” she told Sarawak Tribune when met after the event at DeTAR Putra UNIMAS today.
Recollecting her undergraduate years, she admitted that a perfect GPA was never in her sights then, as her results were consistently average.
Yet, with renewed focus and determination, she redefined her approach for this programme.
“My approach was to focus during classes since that was the only time I could concentrate fully, given my work commitments. It was crucial to understand the material as it was being taught.
“Our classes ran throughout the weekend, both morning and afternoon, so I made a point to ask questions when I didn’t understand, while also building good connections with my classmates,” she added.
Currently serving her fifth year in the Education Services Bureau of the Sarawak Islamic Council (MIS), Nur Fatmadewi believes that lifelong learning fuels her professional growth.
